FREE Family Patriotic Fun!

There is fun for the whole family during Wawa Welcome America!

Families are invited to explore Philadelphia history, food, art and culture

through FREE interactive events June 24 – July 4, 2011.

(PHILADELPHIA) June 24, 2011 – Wawa Welcome America!, Philadelphia’s free multiday July 4^th Festival, captures the minds and imaginations of kids and adults alike with fun, free family programming featuring games, arts and crafts, face-painting, entertainment, food and more. From singing along to “Hairspray” on to joining Mayor Michael A. Nutter for a tale of Philadelphia history, Wawa Welcome America! is the perfect opportunity to spend time together as a family and celebrate our nation’s birth. 

Movies Under the Stars

Families can enjoy free showings of family-friendly cinematic classics on the big screen in Philadelphia’s most legendary locations as part of the Philly @ the Movies series. And this year, the series is bigger and better than before with a total of six movies! Even the family pet is invited to watch  “Best in Show” at Piazza at Schmidts on June 27, and parents and kids alike will be captivated by the 2009 remake of  “Fame” at the Dell Music Center on June 28. Also, on June 28, “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” previews at the Pearl Theatre at 7 p.m. (See the ad in The Philadelphia Inquirer and listen to Radio 104.5 the week of June 20^th for your chance to win tickets to the advance screening.) The series continues on June 29, as Philly’s favorite “Rocky” plays at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and on June 30 it’s all about fashion with “The Devil Wears Prada” at Rittenhouse Square. The sing-along version of “Hairspray” airs at LOVE Park on July 1.  All movies, except for Transformers, start at 9 p.m.

Go 4^th & Learn

Wawa Welcome America!’s Go 4^th & Learn is a special series of free, educational programs for young children and their parents.  The focus is on literacy and learning through fun, interactive events, and the first 200 kids to participate in each event receive a free book.

Go 4^th & Learn begins on Monday, June 27 in Franklin Square for Go 4^th & Learn About History, an outdoor event with readings by Mayor Nutter, Wawa CEO Howard Stoeckel, 6-abc’s Tamala Edwards and other special guests. There will also be a variety of activities as children learn about dairy history including lessons in cow milking, photos with a milkmaid, make-and-take arts and crafts, face-painting and more.

Go 4^th & Learn continues on Tuesday, June 28 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Dell Music Center. Kids will Go 4^th & Learn About Performance Art as ZoomDance features action adventure storytelling, and AMLA presents Latin Rhythms & Roots teaches the roots of Afro Brazilian music. Also, Cache Ivey Dance Ensemble demonstrates African Dance. Go 4th & Learn about History and Performance Art are hosted by WXPN Radio Personality and host of Kid’s Korner, Kathy O’Connell.

New this year, there is a Go 4^th & Learn on Saturday, July 2. Bring the little ones to the Franklin Institute from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. to Go 4^th & Learn About Science – the science behind fireworks. After all, fireworks are a big part of how we celebrate July Fourth! NOTE: Due to space restrictions, this ticketed event will be limited to the first 300 guests. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Independence Day Picnic

Everybody loves a picnic, and there’s none better than the Wawa Welcome America! Independence Day Picnic on June 30. From 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Independence Mall, families are welcome to stop by, bring a picnic lunch, blanket and lawn chair and observe the Military Change of Command of Officers from the Army Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Battalion based in New Jersey. Nearly 300 soldiers will march in command, as a military band plays patriotic music. Food and cold drinks will be available for purchase at the Independence Visitor Center.

Wawa Hoagie Day

On Wednesday, June 19, bring the whole family to join former Governor Edward G. Rendell, Mayor Nutter, Philadelphia police officers and firefighters, Wawa associates and hoagie-lovers to celebrate Hoagie Day 2011 on Independence Mall from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. The highlight of the event will be a 4 ½ ton hoagie, which will be built in the morning and served cold and tasty at the afternoon celebration.  Wawa is calling it a 4 ½ ton hoagie salute to our troops because this year Hoagie Day will focus on honoring our soldiers and hometown heroes.

During the celebration, Wawa and former Governor Edward G. Rendell will present a check to the USO for $20,000 to sponsor 1,500 care packages filled with essential items and Wawa products.  The event will also feature a letter writing station, inviting guests to write a letter to our troops to be inserted into USO care packages that will be sent this summer and during the holiday season.  As always, Hoagie Day will feature a variety of hoagie-centric activities including a charitable hoagie building competition between Philadelphia police and firefighters and members of the Pennsylvania Armed Guard and the Pennsylvania Air Guard, a Hoagie Day feast, and a special Hoagie Day proclamation by Mayor Nutter.

Party on the Parkway

This day-long event has something for the whole family to enjoy! It kicks off at noon on Independence Day and features blocks and blocks of exciting and educational free entertainment, activities, games and food, from 20^th Street to Eakins Oval on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway! The Go 4^th & Learn Stage is one of three Music Stages, featuring hip hop break-dancers and pop vocalists for teens and tweens. Plus, the ?uestlove Stage  will feature the Chin Chin, Nicos Gun, Reiss, Kindred and the Family Soul, and Don T.

Children will especially love the Go 4^th & Learn Kid’s Fun Zone, which brings education to life through interactive games and crafts, gigantic inflatable obstacle courses and moon bounces, face-painting and more. The Party on the Parkway ends at 7 p.m. as the largest free concert in America begins.

Three Free Fireworks Displays

Bring blankets, lawn chairs and the whole family to celebrate Independence Day in Philadelphia with a July 4^th staple: fireworks. During Wawa Welcome America!, three free fireworks displays will light up the night sky, each following a live concert.  Watch brilliant colors burst in time to music on Saturday, June 25 at Penn’s Landing; Saturday, July 2 at Penn’s Landing and Wiggins Waterfront Park across the river in Camden; and Saturday, July 4 following the Philly 4th of July Jam on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The first two shows begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. and the July 4^th show begins at approximately 11 p.m.

Wawa Welcome America! is a multi-day festival that celebrates America’s birthday in America’s birthplace, Philadelphia, and is produced by Welcome America, Inc. For more information, please visit www.welcomeamerica.com.